KARUHAT SOR SUPAWAN (Career 1980-1990)
Karuhat Sor Supawan whose real name is Suvit Yoochumpol was born on May 22, 1968 in the city of Phon in the province of Khon Kaen (North East Region). The Yoochumpol family had five children, the father, a big boxing enthusiast, made the young Suvit and his big brother love this sport. Suvit started his training in Muay Thai at 13 years old in the Sitkhuno Kongnachay camp, he made his first fight just a few months after his debut. His first name as a fighter was Siannoi (The little Sian, Sian = lucky or blessed). And his father gave him the fighter name “Karuhat” (The castle, the fortress). Suvit first fought under these two names Siannoi Sitkhuno Kongnachay and Karuhat Sitkhuno Kongnachay.
Two years later, he joined the Sor Supawan camp which was located in Bangkok at Soi Petchkasem 77 in the Nong Khaem district. Sor Supawan Gym was owned by Mrs. Jaysuwimol Pinsathienket and included several great fighters such as Prawit, Phaythong, Narongnoi and Darunee. But it was the young wonder boy Karuhat who quickly became the star of the camp.
His first achievements were against the huge champion Hippy Singmanee (Lumpinee Champion in 105 lbs and 108 lbs). Karuhat met Hippy Singmanee for the Lumpinee belt in 105 lbs in 1987, Hippy Singmanee held the title he had won against Phungluang Kietanane. Hippy Singmanee retained his title by beating Karuhat on points. The two champions met in 1988 for the title of Lumpinee champion in 108 lbs and Hippy again beat Karuhat on points.
Karuhat and Hippy Singmanee have always made big technical confrontations, they have met four times with two wins for Hippy, one victory for Karuhat and they drew.
In 1989, at 22 years old, it was finally the consecration for Karuhat who succeeded in winning the famous title of the stadium Lumpinee. He beat the terrible durable boxer Pairojnoi Sor Sayamchai (Nicknamed “Ayleuhatlek” the bloody steel, Lumpinee champion in 105 lbs) for the Lumpinee belt in 112 lbs. Karuhat then victoriously defended his title in 112 lbs against the solid Chainoi Muangsurin (3 wins by points for Karuhate, 1 victory by KO for Chainoi).
The following year, Yodsian faced the defending champion of Lumpinee stadium in the 115 lbs category, the star of the time Langsuan Phanyutapum (Lumpinee Champion in 108 lbs, in 112 lbs and in 115 lbs, Best boxer of the year 1987). Langsuan retained his title against Karuhat. The two champions made a lot of memorable fights, Karuhat and Langsuan faced each other 9 times with 5 wins for Langsuan, 3 wins for Karuhat and a draw.
On April 27, 1990, in the stadium of Lumpinee, in a big show Thailand against Holland, Karuhat beat the rough Dutch champion Michael Lieuwfat (European Champion) by making a technical festival in front of him, kick of knees jumped, poke jumped up !
On October 7, 1990, in a show in New Zealand, a championship between two Thai fighters, with a Lumpinee stadium belt at play, was organized. The defending champion of the stadium of Lumpinee in 115 lbs, the young prodigy Oley Kiatoneway (18 years old) defended his trophy against Karuhat (23 years old). Oley had won the title four months earlier by beating star Boonlay Sor Thanikul. After a magnificent technical and tactical match, Oley retained his title and won this second confrontation against Karuhat. Karuhat had beaten Oley in the stadium of Lumpinee a year before, on November 28, 1989.
In 1993, Karuhat challenged the famous Chatchai Paiseethong who had held the Lumpinee title in 122 lbs for a long time. Nicknamed “Samart 2” (In reference to the legendary Samart Payakaroon), Chatchai was a superb and formidable technician. The clash between Chatchai and Karuhat was grandiose, in the fourth round Yodsian opened Chatchai badly with his pokes and won the match on points. Karuhat seized the title of champion of Lumpinee in 122 lbs!
Karuhat defended his title in 122 lbs against another big star of the moment, the terrible Wangchannoi Sor Palangchai (Lumpinee Champion in 108 lbs and 122 lbs, Best boxer of the year 1993) nicknamed Wonderman. Wangchannoi defeated Karuhat and won his Lumpinee title.
Wangchannoi was one of Karuhat’s toughest opponents, the two champions have faced each other three times and Wonderman won all three matches…
Two years later, in 1995, Karuhat won again the Lumpinee belt in the 122 lbs category, he beat the champion Meechok Sor Ploenchit on points. A title that he defended brilliantly against the great champion of the moment, Boonlay Sor Thanikul (Lumpinee Champion in 115 lbs and 122 lbs). His fights against Boonlay were very difficult because he was tall and technical. Boonlay has twice beaten Karuhat on points and he lost once for the Lumpinee title!
Karuhat Sor Supawan was nicknamed by his friends “Sian”, he was then nicknamed by Muay Thai fans “Yodsian” (Which basically means The Superstar). Karuhat has also been nicknamed for his very clean, technical and intelligent boxing style, “Yodmuayechriya” (The Genius of Boxing) and “Aysiyan” (The Talented)!
Karuhat is one of the legendary champions of the “golden age” of Muay Thai in Thailand, he made 190 fights for 165 victories (20 KO), 23 defeats and 2 draws. Karuhat also won big purses when he was at the top of his career, one of his biggest purses he won was 300,000 bahts for his fight against Kaensak Sor Ploenchit (Lumpinee champion, Radja champion, Best boxer of the year in 1989 and 1990), on May 21, 1993 in the stadium of Lumpinee, a fight won by Yodsian!
In the 90s, this extraordinary champion was feared, being small for his category, Karuhat had to deploy a very skilful boxing to beat his opponents who were often bigger and heavier than him. This magnificent technician perfectly control the techniques of counter and pokes, during a match with Karuhat his opponents were almost guaranteed to finish the fight with an opening in the face.
Karuhat was also nicknamed “Fabulous Fighter”. Because he made many fabulous fights like against the puncher Veerapol Sahaphrom (Radja Champion in 108 lbs, in 112 lbs, and in 115 lbs, WBA and WBC World Champion of Boxing in 118 lbs). Karuhat twice defeated Veerapol in the stadium of Lumpinee and he lost once in points, in the stadium of Radja, in front of “Discreet Killer”.
Karuhat has faced practically all the best champions of his generation, he has beaten the great champions Rambo Pongsiree, Pairojnoi Sor Sayamchai, Hippy Singmanee, Kaensak Sor Ploenchit, Lamnamoon Sor Sumalee, Nungubon Sitlerchai, Matee Jedipitak, Veerapol Sahaprom, Santos Devy, Langsuan Phanyutapum, Paruhatlek Sitchunthong, Hansak Prasathinpanomrung, Boonlai Sor Thanikul, Nongnarong Luksamrong, Chainoi Muangsurin (KO), Oley Kiatoneway, Yodpetch Sor Jitpattana, Seangmorakot Sor Ploenchit, Kruekchai Kaewsamrit (Stop of the referee), Duangsomgpong Por Pongsawan (KO), Panomrung Sitsarawat, Tukkatathong Por Pongsawan, Jaroensap Kietbanchong!
Karuhat also made superb matches against great champions much heavier than him such as Samkor Kietmontep (Lumpinee Champion in 122 lbs, in 130 lbs and in 135 lbs) and Namkabuan Nongkee Pahuyuth (Lumpinee Champion in 130 lbs) ( Defeat by KO and on points). As well as very technical matches against Silapathai Jockygym (Radja Champion in 108 lbs and 122 lbs) and Oley Kiatoneway (Lumpinee Champion in 115 lbs) (1 victory, 1 loss).
Karuhat dominated the 122 lbs category in the 90s. In early 2000, Karuhat fought abroad with varying degrees of success. But he wasn’t the same when he was in his heyday. Karuhat was not training seriously, he lost fights hard like in 2000, at 32 years old, where he met a young Russian, not to train, “The Genius” was knocked out by a young champion named Alexei Pekarchik who was later all the same three times world champion of Muay Thai…
In the 2000s, Karuhat opened his own camp called the Sitkaruhat Gym in the Nong Kheam district of Bangkok. A camp in which he notably trained champions Chailek Sit Karuhat (Lumpinee Champion) and Chaiyai Sit Karuhat. After his camp closed, Karuhat became a trainer in various camps in Bangkok and Pattaya.
This legendary champion is considered by many specialists as the best fighter in the 122 lbs category of the 90s!
BY SERGE TREFEU